Blitz operations in Normandy

ETF teams mobilised in September during two intensive weekends at Evreux station (27) to replace track equipment and part of the track. This operation is part of the Vigirail 2021 programme for our client, SNCF Réseau.

A project at the heart of Normandy’s rail strategy

Located on the Paris-Caen-Cherbourg axis, the renewal of track equipment in Evreux is one of the flagship projects for 2021 in Normandy. It is part of a vast maintenance and modernisation plan for the network launched at the end of 2020 by the Normandy region, the French government and SNCF Réseau. The aim is to guarantee a high level of performance and quality for the Normandy rail network.

UA major mobilisation for a technical project

Nearly 50 operational staff were mobilised on the weekends of 10/11 and 24/25 September for 36-hour blitz operations. Spread over two separate sites, Evreux station and the Martainville tracks, the work enabled:

• Renew 7 sets of points and replace 3 half-points
• Renew 360 metres of track/ballast, 150 metres of sleepers/ballast, 647 metres of rail and 379 metres of lifting
• Carry out catenary work (joint contract with Meccoli)
• Autonomous traction control (Feroway)
• Installation and removal of LTV
• Dynamic stabilisation of devices

To carry out all of these tasks, the ETF teams in Normandy were able to count on the support of the ETF Paris Nord teams.

A successful project, completed on time

Thanks to the human and material resources deployed, the Vigirail operation was a success in terms of both production and deadlines. Each weekend, the track was reopened to traffic two hours ahead of the initial schedule. The SNCF was able to restore passenger traffic on time, thus limiting the disruption caused.